Toothpaste measuring toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A toothpaste measuring toothbrush for allowing users of a toothbrush to know how much toothpaste is needed or recommended simply by filling a reservoir in the toothbrush. The toothpaste measuring toothbrush generally includes toothbrush bristles, a head that attaches to the bristles, and a well surrounded by bristles.

Toothbrushes specifically designed to measure the amount of toothpaste are not very common in the marketplace. U.S. Pat. No. #6,033,733 describes a toothbrush that uses different color bristles to try to provide a guide to how much toothpaste to place on the toothbrush bristles. Other toothbrushes exist where toothpaste is injected into the toothbrush head from a reservoir in the handle such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. #7,021,851-6,685,375-6,406,207-6,056,466, and 5,908,257. All these patents are similar in that they describe a mechanism in which the toothpaste is delivered from the handle into the brush head. Another toothbrush, patent application #20080014010 describes a toothbrush in which a cavity exists into which a measured amount of toothpaste can be inserted. Toothbrush patent application # 20070209676 describes a disposable toothbrush where a measured amount of toothpaste can be inserted into the handle and extruded into the toothbrush head. Patent application # 20090044356 describes a toothbrush designed to accept a capsule into the head of the toothbrush which specifically uses angled bristles to hold the capsule in the brush head. Other patents and applications exist that describe similar toothbrushes with similar limitations.

Toothbrushes that have toothpaste in the handle that is essentially extruded into the brush head allow for toothpaste delivery with limited ability to control the amount of toothpaste. Also, due to the ability of saliva to flow back into the opening where the toothpaste entered the head of the toothbrush, bacteria, viruses and other contaminants could be harbored in a non-disposable toothbrush.

Toothbrushes that are disposable or that allow the insertion of a toothpaste bead such as patent application #20080014010 and #20090044356 potentially reduce the risk of contamination but have other limitations. Reducing the surface area of bristles to create a space for a toothpaste capsule as seen in patent application #20080014010 is not desirable nor as functional. This empty space reserved for the capsule is not useful for brushing and essentially is only a space maintainer. Furthermore, no color scheme to outline the well is described, as it is in my patent.

Toothbrushes that attempt to measure the amount of toothpaste by coloring a certain number of toothbrush bristles such as patent #6033733 are not very accurate and suffer the same problems as regular toothbrushes once the toothbrush enters the mouth, which is that toothpaste usually immediately falls off the toothbrush and is usually swallowed, not used for brushing the rest of the teeth. Furthermore, toothpaste that is added to the top of the toothbrush can fall off the toothbrush onto the sink and create a mess. Furthermore, toothpaste that is added onto the top of the bristles can fall off and create a mess if the toothpaste tips over when it sits on the counter.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of toothpaste measuring toothbrushes described in my above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

-   -   (a) to provide a toothpaste measuring toothbrush that allows         users of a toothbrush to know how much toothpaste is needed or         recommended simply by filling a reservoir in the toothbrush;     -   (b) to keep the toothpaste from falling off the toothbrush while         brushing;     -   (c) to keep the toothpaste from falling off the toothbrush if it         tips over on the sink;     -   (d) to maximize the amount of bristles contacting the teeth         during brushing and still be able to measure the amount of         toothpaste used;     -   (e) to allow for insertion of a toothpaste capsule without         compromising the available surface area provided by the         bristles;     -   (f) to allow the user to see where the toothpaste cavity is by         adding a color scheme that outlines the cavity.         Thus it would be desirable to provide a toothbrush that allows         the measuring of toothpaste without the reduction of cleaning         bristles, possible bacterial contamination or loss of         toothpaste.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a toothbrush which includes toothbrush bristles, a head that attaches to the bristles and a well surrounded by bristles.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter.

The toothpaste measuring toothbrush overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages by combining several important features into one design, specifically the bristles below the cavity. There are no patents or patent applications that describe a cavity that has bristles below the cavity. All patents or patent applications either use uniform length bristles and extrude toothpaste through them from the bottom of the toothbrush head or have no bristles below the toothpaste cavity for insertion of a toothpaste pearl. Furthermore, the combination of a toothpaste cavity with a color as seen in U.S. Pat. No. #6,033,733 has not been documented.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1: Top view of the toothpaste measuring toothbrush. In this view you can see the Well 30, the Head 10, the Short Bristles 22 and the Long Bristles 21.

FIG. 2: Side/End view of the toothpaste measuring toothbrush. In this view you can see the different Bristles 20. The Short Bristles 22 and the Long Bristles 21 are easily identified, outlining the Well 30 where the toothpaste goes.

FIG. 3: Side/End view of the toothpaste measuring toothbrush. In this view you can see the Well 30 filled with a certain amount of toothpaste 40 surrounded by the Short Bristles 22 and the Long Bristles 21.

REFERENCE NUMBERAL IN DRAWINGS Head 20 Bristles 21 Long Bristles 22 Short Bristles 30 Well 40 Toothpaste DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Overview

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate toothbrush bristles, a head that attaches to the bristles and a well surrounded by bristles.

A. Head 10

The toothbrush Head 10 is the plastic handle where the bristles attach into. The Head 10 of the toothpaste measuring toothbrush is made of plastic and holds the Bristles 20 firmly within it. In the preferred embodiment the Head is somewhat of an oval shape. The Head 10 could be made out of any material that is able to securely hold the Bristles 20. The Head 10 can vary greatly in shape and size.

B. Bristles 20

The toothbrush Bristles 20 are the plastic like projections that come out of the Head. These projections contact the teeth and perform the cleaning. The Bristles 20 of the toothpaste measuring toothbrush in the preferred embodiment are made of Dupont Tynex material and have a 0.15 mm diameter. The Long Bristles 21 surrounding the Well 30 are 11 mm long and the Short Bristles 22 below the Well 30 are 5 mm in length. Furthermore, the Long Bristles 21 are blue and the Short Bristles 22 white, allowing for easy identification of the Well 30. The Bristles 20 can readily vary in composition, diameter and length. Instead of just 2 sized, there can be a gradual transition from the Long Bristles 21 to the Short Bristles 22. The color and color combination of the bristles can vary.

C. Well 30

The Well 30 is the space that is surrounded by bristles into which toothpaste is ejected. The Well 30 is the cavity into which the toothpaste is dispensed. The Well 30 in the preferred embodiment is about the size of a pea, or 3 mm×3 mm in children and 5×5 mm in adults, the size of a pearl. The Well 30 is surrounded by Bristles 20 on all sides except the top where the toothpaste is placed and where the teeth contact. The Well 30 could vary in size significantly. The two most prevalent sizes will be 3×3 mm, or the size of a pea, and 5×5 mm, the size of a pearl. The Well 30 can be surrounded by Bristles 20 or other common toothbrush components such as rubber walls or a combination thereof. The Well 30 can be shaped in different shapes such as a star, an animal, or other form.

D. Toothpaste 40

A certain amount of Toothpaste 40 fits into the Well 30. The amount of Toothpaste 40 depends on the size of the Well 30.

Connections of Main Elements of Invention

The Bristles 20 are firmly connected into the toothbrush Head 10 either by retention, heat, or glue. The Well 30 is created by inserting different length of Bristles 20 into the Head 30.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION

The Well 30 can be created by using a variety of methods, including surrounding the Well 30 with rubber walls or divisions. The location of the Well 30 is not specific and can vary. The color of the Bristles 20 can vary; in one case outlining the location of the Well 30.

OPERATION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Tooth brushing is quite common and a fairly easily understood process. You place toothpaste onto your toothbrush and then proceed to brush your teeth. The toothpaste measuring toothbrush ensures that a certain amount of toothpaste is used. This is critical as children especially tend to swallow toothpaste, and with chemicals such as fluoride in the toothpaste too much could be harmful. A pea size amount of toothpaste is frequently recommended for children. Parents then pick up the toothpaste measuring toothbrush and fill the easily identified Well 30 with toothpaste 40. The toothpaste now is securely locked into the toothbrush. Then the child or parent proceeds to brush the child's teeth. The Well 30 ensures that the recommended amount of toothpaste is used.

What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect. 

1. A toothbrush comprising a brush head having a toothpaste receiving well surrounded by bristles on 5 out of 6 sides sized to receive a measured amount of toothpaste.
 2. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the well outlined by the bristles is defined by different color bristles below it.
 3. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the well is outlined by rubber or rubber like material instead of bristles on one or more sides.
 4. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the bristles below the well are shaped in a concave manner.
 5. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the bristles below the well have a convex shape, like a point.
 6. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the bristles surrounding the well are a different color from the remaining bristles.
 7. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the well shape is an oval.
 8. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the well shape is a star.
 9. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the well shape is a circle.
 10. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the well shape is a square.
 11. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the well shape is a rectangle.
 12. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the short bristles are between 1 mm and 8 mm long.
 13. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the short bristles are arranged in a different shape or pattern than the long bristles.
 14. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the volume of toothpaste that fills the well is between about 0.1 grams and 0.75 grams. 